In-Depth Analysis Report

ID Hospital

Representative Director Park Sang-hoon

Facial Bone Surgery Pioneering Techniques Medical Innovation

Key Summary

Institutional Status

ID Hospital is a hospital-level medical institution certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, positioning itself as Asia's largest specialized center for facial contouring and orthognathic surgery.

Founder Leadership

Representative Director Park Sang-hoon, a Seoul National University College of Medicine graduate, is a pioneer in Korean facial bone plastic surgery, performing the first cosmetic orthognathic surgery in 1995 and developing 'V-line Square Jaw Surgery (T-osteotomy).'

Technological Innovation

It holds a technological edge by introducing surgical methods that enhance patient recovery convenience and safety, such as 'No-Tie Orthognathic Surgery,' 'Navigation Orthognathic Surgery,' and 'Surgery First Approach.'

Reputation & Controversy

While possessing high recognition, it faced 'Ghost Surgery' suspicions and 'factory-style' complaints. The hospital is attempting to restore trust through measures like the 'Surgery Real-Name System' and CCTV.

Director Park Sang-hoon: In-Depth Analysis

Education and Major Career

  • **Education:** Graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine (1988), Master's and Ph.D. in Plastic Surgery, Seoul National University Graduate School (2004). Plastic Surgery Training at Seoul National University Hospital, Fellow at Asan Medical Center.
  • **Major Career:** Former Professor at University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center; Former Director of Craniofacial Malformation Center, Asan Medical Center; Exchange Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, New York University (NYU), USA; Exchange Professor, UT Dallas, USA.

External Activities and Media

  • Appeared as a doctor for all seasons of the popular makeover program 'Let Me In,' establishing an image as a 'miracle doctor.'
  • Contributes to fostering future generations by writing textbooks dedicated to facial contouring surgery.

Major Research Achievements and Developed Surgical Methods

  1. First Cosmetic Orthognathic Surgery in Korea (1995): Introduced orthognathic surgery for cosmetic purposes (improving lantern jaw, facial asymmetry, etc.) and popularized it.
  2. Development of V-line Square Jaw Surgery (T-osteotomy): Devised the 'V-line Surgery Method' that resects the square jaw while narrowing the chin tip, receiving academic recognition in the American journal of plastic surgery.
  3. No-Tie Orthognathic Surgery: A groundbreaking method omitting intermaxillary fixation, enabling patients to breathe, eat, and speak immediately after surgery, shortening recovery and reducing risk.
  4. Surgery First Approach: Reversed the 'orthodontics first, surgery later' method, performing surgery first for immediate appearance improvement, then proceeding with dental correction.

Hospital Overview and Infrastructure Analysis

Establishment and History

The origin of ID Hospital is 'Park Sang-hoon Plastic Surgery,' opened in July 2004. Director Park Sang-hoon is evaluated as a pioneer who expanded orthognathic and facial contouring surgery to the local hospital domain.

  • **2004:** Opened Park Sang-hoon Plastic Surgery.
  • **2005:** Opened ID Dental Clinic and established Facial Bone Research Institute.
  • **2009:** ID Hospital expansion opening (Promoted to hospital-level medical institution).
  • **2016:** Acquired Ministry of Health and Welfare medical institution certification for the first time in plastic surgery.
  • **2021:** Acquired KRI Korea Record Institute certification for 'Most Plastic Surgeries Accumulated over 4 Years.'

Facility Scale and Features

ID Hospital's main branch, located on Dosan-daero in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, has a total floor area of approximately 9,657.49㎡ (about 2,920 pyeong), among the largest for cosmetic plastic surgery hospitals in Korea.

  • **Capacity:** Equipped with waiting rooms for 237 people and inpatient rooms with over 30 beds.
  • **Safety Facilities:** University hospital-level sterile air shower system, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), possession of Dantrolene for malignant hyperthermia.
  • **Center Composition:** Specialists in plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, anesthesiology, and otolaryngology reside, operated by specialized centers.
  • **Philosophy (Inferred):** Presenting a brand vision of 'Beauty Wonderland' through a collaborative system with various specialties.

Ministry of Health and Welfare Certification

In 2016, ID Hospital became the first cosmetic plastic surgery hospital to obtain medical institution certification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This signifies passing strict standards for patient safety, medical service quality, and infection control, increasing the hospital's reliability.

In 2023, it received the Minister of Health and Welfare Award in recognition of its social contribution activities.

Major Procedures and Technical Features

Orthognathic Surgery

  • **No-Tie Orthognathic Surgery:** Omits intermaxillary fixation, maximizing patient convenience and minimizing recovery time.
  • **Navigation Orthognathic Surgery:** Applies car navigation principles, preventing nerve damage and minimizing error margin with real-time monitoring.
  • **Surgery First Technique:** Drastically shortens orthodontic period, providing immediate appearance improvement.

Facial Contouring Surgery

  • **V-line Square Jaw Surgery:** Controls square jaw and chin tip width/shape, maximizing frontal effect through T-osteotomy.
  • **High-L Zygoma Reduction:** Increases zygoma reduction effect by deep osteotomy, including the most protruding part, and prevents cheek sagging with a lifting effect.

Other Medical Fields

  • **ID Dental Clinic:** Handles orthodontic treatment before and after orthognathic surgery, aesthetic orthodontics (e.g., Invisalign).
  • **ID Dermatology & Petit Center:** Provides post-operative swelling management, lifting, and anti-aging procedures.
  • **Breast Surgery:** Performs breast augmentation and reconstruction using implants like Motiva and Mentor, operating a breast examination center.

Reputation, Controversies, and Consumer Analysis

Positive Reputation and Achievements

  • **Overwhelming Surgical Data:** Received KRI Korea Record Institute certification for 'Most Plastic Surgeries Accumulated over 4 Years' (7 fields), indicating abundant clinical experience.
  • **Global Awareness:** Operates overseas branches (Thailand, Indonesia, Japan), recognized as a 'K-Beauty' leader with high foreign patient attraction and global patient-tailored systems.
  • **Systematic Cooperative System:** Provides one-stop service from pre-operative examination to post-operative care through collaboration among plastic surgery, dentistry, internal medicine, and anesthesiology.

Controversies and Critical Views

  • **Suspicion of Ghost Surgery:** Faced 'ghost surgery' controversy (doctor other than consulting doctor performs surgery), primarily raised in plastic surgery communities and some media reports.
  • **Complaints about Factory-style System:** Criticized as a 'Factory' hospital lacking detailed care for individual patients due to its large scale; complaints include consultation centered on managers and difficulty meeting attending doctors.
  • **Complaints of Side Effects:** Reviews complaining of sensory abnormalities, asymmetry, and non-union after high-difficulty surgeries are found, along with concerns about post-operative handling.

Hospital Response and Self-Correction Efforts

  • **Surgery Real-Name System:** A system where the attending doctor is responsible for the entire process from consultation to surgery and discharge to block ghost surgery suspicions.
  • **Pro-Doctor System:** Marketing emphasizing expertise and responsibility by designating verified specialists in each field as 'Pro-Doctors.'
  • **CCTV and Monitoring:** Strengthening monitoring systems to relieve patient and guardian anxiety.

Conclusion and Comprehensive Analysis

ID Hospital and Representative Director Park Sang-hoon are undoubtedly the protagonists who raised Korean plastic surgery technology to a global level. The combination of hardware as a 'hospital-level medical institution' and innovative software (surgical methods) such as 'No-Tie Orthognathic Surgery' and 'T-osteotomy' has grown ID Hospital into an Asian beauty hub.

However, the suspicions of ghost surgery and criticism of the factory-style system that emerged during the rapid growth process are ongoing tasks the hospital must solve. How effectively the recently introduced surgery real-name system and Pro-Doctor system are operated will be key factors determining the hospital's future reputation and reliability.

From an academic perspective, ID Hospital can be analyzed as a leading model that led the popularization and standardization of high-difficulty facial skeletal surgery, while simultaneously being a representative case showing the ethical dilemmas of a commercialized medical market. For patients, it is important to carefully check not only the hospital's flashy infrastructure and reputation but also the actual participation of the operating surgeon, the presence of resident anesthesiologists, and the sincerity of the post-operative care system.

Key Insights

Leading Model in Facial Skeletal Surgery

Pioneered and standardized complex facial bone surgeries.

Technological Innovation & Standardization

Developed and popularized advanced surgical techniques.

Navigating Commercial & Ethical Dilemmas

A case study in balancing growth with patient trust.